Suicide bomber hits police bus in Kabul, kills 2 officers

KABUL, Afghanistan -- A suicide attacker on a bicycle detonated a large bomb near an Afghan police precinct in the capital Sunday, killing two police officers and wounding 21 police and civilians, including three children.

The force of the blast was so great the bus was blown off the ground and crashed 10 yards away, witnesses said. Pieces of twisted wreckage littered the road.

More than 100 police and intelligence forces -- as well as French soldiers from the NATO coalition -- responded to the scene.

A spokesman for the Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, which again demonstrated the insurgents' ability to strike in the heart of the capital even as Afghanistan prepares for presidential elections in April and U.S.-led coalition forces plan to withdraw by the end of 2014.

Hamed, a 22-year-old construction company owner who witnessed the explosion, said the blast was huge and rushed to the scene.

"I saw more than 20 wounded," said Hamed, who like many Afghans goes by one name. "My uncle and I carried about 12 wounded police and civilians in our own cars to the hospital."

JERUSALEM -- The death of former Israeli prime minister and military leader Ariel Sharon was met with emotional responses Saturday in Israel and the Palestinian territories; in some quarters eliciting cries of sorrow, in others, tears of joy.

The United States and five other world powers extended their talks with Iran on its nuclear program for at least one more day Tuesday, as they sought to resolve difficult, final disputes after a tumultuous period of negotiations.

The White House, which halted weapons deliveries to Egypt in mid-2013 to protest a military takeover there, reversed course Tuesday and announced a quick infusion of military aid to help Cairo respond to the mounting turmoil in the Middle East.

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Thailand's coup leader-turned-prime minister on Tuesday called for an end to martial law, to be replaced with sweeping authority for himself that human rights advocates likened to absolute power with impunity.